Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Here is the tutorial for the above travel case. Feel free to share this tutorial. Please link back to the original post. I am trying to create a PDF for this, but my converter isn't cooperating. I'll post it as soon as I can.

Materials:

4 coordinating fat quarters or large scraps:

Fabric A- **Outside of the Bag (quilted-see note below)

Fabric B- Lining

Fabric C- Interior

Fabric D- Large Interior Pocket

Fabric E- Small Interior Pocket and Credit Card Pocket

¼ yard of fusible stabilizer (or scraps)

8x9 in piece of quilt batting

Two 8-9 in. zippers

Two ½ in. snaps

Cutting Your Fabric:

Note:

I trace around my patterns with a seam allowance disc made by Clover. This adds a seam allowance of about 1/3 of an inch. Please make sure to add a seam allowance of at least 1/3 in. to each of your pieces. You DO NOT need to add a seam allowance around the zipper tabs.

**All measurements are in inches**

Fabric A: four zipper tabs 1x3, 8x9 **I cut all my other pieces out first. Then I use the remaining fabric to create a quilted front for the bag.

2. Fold fabric E (6x6 piece) in half and iron seam. Attach fusible stabilizer by lining up one of the long edges with the seam. Press.

3. Fold fabric D in half, creating the large pocket (6x8 after folding) Attach stabilizer the same way as above.

4. Attach the stabilizer to fabric C by centering it on the back, then press.

5. Quilt the top of fabric A in any design you choose. Just make sure that your finished piece is at least 8 2/3x9 2/3 (this includes a 1/3 in. seam allowance)

Directions:

Interior:

1.Take fabric E for the small pocket. Fold in half, right sides together. Sew one of the short seams.

2.Trim the corner and flip right side out.

3.Fold fabric D in half to make the 6x8 in. pocket. Pin the newly sewn edge of the small pocket to fabric D. Top stitch along edge.

4.Pin the pocket piece to the interior fabric on the three outer edges. Baste along the outer edges. **Make sure your stitches are close to the edge.

Credit Card Pocket:

5.Now for the credit card/id pocket. Take your other piece of fabric E. Fold and press ¼ in. around all sides.

6.Starting at one end, mark 2 in, 1.5 in, 2 in, 1.5 in, and you should have about an inch left over.

7.Fold and iron along your markings.

8.Using the long edge of one of your lining pieces (fabric B) mark 1.5 in. from the top edge and the center. Mark the center of the 1 in. fold of your ID pocket.

9.Line up the top edge of your ID pocket (the 1 in. side) When it’s lined up, open the seam allowance and pin.

10.Sew along the fold.

11.Flip the pocket so it folds neatly and pin along the sides and bottom.

12.Sew along the sides and bottom. Remember to backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.

Zippers:

13.Fold each zipper tab down 1/3 in. Pin fabric A to the front of the zipper and the lining fabric to the back of the zipper. They should be pinned just above the zipper stops.

14.With your needle set to center, start sewing just above the fold. I sew to the end of the zipper (about 1.25 in.) Do this on both sides of the zipper at both ends.

15.Next, you’re ready to make a little sandwich. First, lay down your lining fabric, right side up. Then center your zipper, right side up, along the 9 in. edge. Next, place fabric A, right side down, on top of the sandwich. Make sure the edge of the fabric line up with the edge of the zipper. Trim any excess zipper tab fabric away.

16.For this step you can use a zipper foot. I don’t have one. So here is what I do. Set your needle to left of center. Sew along the edge of the fabric making sure the zipper is right next to the presser foot. Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.

17.Flip the fabric so the zipper is on one side, and the fabric (wrong sides together) is on the other. Top stitch along the seam you just created.

18.To sew the other side, lay down the other piece of lining fabric, right side up. Next, place the piece you just finished sewing, zipper side up. Last, place fabric C (interior fabric with pockets attached) face down. Line up the edges. Pin. Complete step #17 and #18 for this side of the zipper.

19.Lay your piece out flat, with the lining fabric on the bottom and the exterior/interior up.

20.Roll one side in toward the zipper. Pin to keep it out of the way.

21.Flip the existing lining fabric so it is right side up. Place other zipper, right side up along the edge of the lining. Then, fold the top fabric over, lining up all the edges.

22.Pin and sew following step #17.

23.Turn piece right side out and top stitch following step #18.

24.Unpin rolled side. Flip fabric so the lining piece is right side up. Line up the unsewn side of the zipper with the edge of the lining fabric. Lastly, flip the outer fabric piece. Line up all the edges, pin, and sew.

25.To complete the top stitch on this side of the bag, flip the bag to create a tube with the lining on the inside. Make sure to open the zippers, and keep an eye on the lining so you don’t sew it into the seam. Carefully top stitch following step #18.

Finishing:

26.You will now have a tube, with the right sides out.

27.You need to turn one of the sides so that the fabric is wrong sides out.

28.Pin lining fabrics and outer fabrics together along the edge.

29.When you get to the zipper tabs, fold them in half, right sides together. This will create a nice finished corner.

30. Sew around one entire side of the fabric.

31.Before sewing the other side, ****OPEN BOTH ZIPPERS!!!**** Mark a 3 in. opening on the lining side of the fabric. Do not sew here.

32.Sew from one mark, around to the other. Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.

33.CAREFULLY turn the bag right side out.

34.Turn the bag so the lining fabric is on the outside. Hand or machine sew the opening in the lining closed.

35.Turn the bag right side out. On the outer fabric of your case, mark a line down the center. Pin along the line.

36.Sew along this line, going through all the layers of fabric.

37.Lastly, sew on some snaps to keep your case closed. Sew them on each side of the small pocket. I know this seems strange, but if you sew them on the corner of fabric C you can’t fit your boarding pass in the pocket and snap it closed.

Whew, that's a long tutorial. It really doesn't take that long to make once you get the hang of it. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Also remember, I LOVE comments! Happy travels!!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Wow, I can't believe it's been a week since I posted! I have been sewing, I swear. LOL. I have been working on a tutorial for a new and improved travel case. It took a few practice rounds to get it right. I'm having a couple people proof read it before I post it. Here are some pictures of two cases that I finished this week. The tutorial will be up soon!